Clamp device for container closures



Oct. 6, 1942. w. D. BEHL'EN CLAMP DEVICE} FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed July 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 6, 1942. w. D. BEHLEN CLAMP DEVICE FOR CONTAINER CLOSUHES Filed July 13, 1940 2 Sheets Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMP DEVICE FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES Walter D. Behlen, Columbus, Nebr.

Application July 13, 1940, Serial No. 345,421

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a retaining device or clamp by which the cover of a case, crate, box, etc., may be releasably secured in position.

An object of the invention is to provide a clamp device of simple and sturdy construction which may be readily applied to the cover or lid of a container and then releasably looked upon the top of the container against removal. Another object of the invention is to provide means adapted to be secured to the cover of a case or container and for securing the same against lateral movement on said container, together with releasable means for confining the cover against vertical movement. A still further object is to provide an integral retaining member of extremely simple construction which may be readily fastened upon a cover and then releasably brought into engagement with the cleat of a box for confining the cover upon the box. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in preferred embodiments, by the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a broken perspective view of a clamping member embodying my invention applied to a container closure; Fig. 2, an inner elevation view of the clamp member embodying my invention; Fig. 3, a top plan view; Fig. 4, a broken end view of the blank member from which the clamp device is formed; Fig. 5, a sectional detail view, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a broken perspective view of a portion of the clamp member and showing the hook employed; Fig. '7, a sectional 13 detail view, the section being taken as indicated at line 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a perspective view of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 8a, a perspective view of the spring clamp used; Fig. 9,

a transverse sectional view of the clamp applied to a container closure, the section being taken as indicated at line 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the modified form of hook used in the structure shown in Fig. 8; and Fig. 11, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line II of Fig. 8. In the illustration given, A designates a container equipped with a cover B; and C indicates the form of clamp illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, inelusive.

The case A may be of any suitable structure. In the illustration given, a typical egg case is illustrated, the case being provided with a cleat III on its top outer margin. It will be understood that a similar cleat extends on the opposite side thereof. Any suitable case, crate or box may, however, be used.

Th cover B is illustrated in the form of a single cover member. It will be understood that any suitable type of cover may be employed.

The clamp C comprises a top horizontal wall II and a side vertical wall I2. The side wall I2 has a lower portion which is preferably folded upwardly to provide a rear wall I3.

A portion of the wall I2, including a portion of the folded rear wall I3, is struck from the blank, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to provide a hook member I4. The hook member is turned inwardly providing a horizontal flange portion parallel with the top wall II, The rear portion of the member I4 is turned downwardly to provide a locking flange I5. The flange engages the inner wall of the case A and thus prevents lateral shifting of the cover when in the position shown in Fig. 5. The depending flange I5 may be of any suitable shape. In the particular form illustrated, the flange I5 is inclined rearwardly, but has substantially V-shaped sides which are brought into engagement with the inner wall of case A.

The side wall I2 has its outer portion struck out centrally and then formed into two channels, as indicated by the numeral I6. Between the channels I6 spot-welding II secures this wall portion to the rear wall I3. The two channels I6 are adapted to receive the central loop portion I8 of the retaining member I9. The retaining member I9 has free leg portions 20 equipped with sharpened ends 2| which are adapted to be sprung under and brought into engagement with the cleat ill of box A.

In the operation of the device, the cover B has its edge portion brought between the horizontal top wall II and the horizontal flange of hook I4, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the depending flange I5 engaging the inner wall of container A. The spring clamping legs 20 are then pressed downwardly and under the cleat I0 so as to firmly engage the cleat and lock the cover upon the case. When it is desired to open the cover, the legs 20 are sprung downwardly and out of engagement with the cleat I II. This is done on both sides of the case, the pair of clamps being released in the same manner. The cover can then be lifted oil.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the clamp D is similar in most respects to the clamp 0. However, instead of having a spring clamp secured centrally to the member D, a spring clamp 22 is employed which has its ends 23 received within tubular channels 24 formed in the side vertical wall 25 of member D. The member 22 is equipped with rearwardly extending crimps 26 which are adapted to extend under and engage the bottom of cleat I!) as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 9. The hook members 26 employed are substantially identical with the hook members M of structure C except that the depending flange 21 is straight rather than V-shaped. In this connection it will be understood that the hook flange may be varied in a multitude of ways While serving the functions set out herein, and it is unnecessary to attempt to set forth the many possible structures which will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the cover B is received between the top wall 28 and the hook flange 26 of member D and the depending flange 21 engages the inner wall of container A. The spring clamp 22 is then drawn downwardly and under the cleat l so as to lock the cover B tightly upon case A. To release the cover, it is only necessary to spring the member 22 outwardly so as to disengage the locking crimps 26 from engagement with the cleat. When this is done on both sides of the container, the cover B may be lifted off.

The clamping device C or D may be formed readily from a single strip of metal, the blank for forming clamp C being shown in Fig. 4. The top wall II is formed by folding the material along the dotted line 29. The inner side wall I3 is formed by folding the metal along the dotted line 30.

While in the foregoing description, I have set forth certain details and certain modifications as illustrative of the invention, it will be understood that such details and modifications may be varied Widely by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A clamp device adapted to be used in pairs for securing a cover upon a case, the case being provided on opposite sides with cleats, each clamp comprising an angular member having a horizontal top wall and a vertical side wall, hook means on said side wall providing a horizontal flange spaced from said top wall and adapted to receive therebetween an edge portion of said cover, said hook means having a depending portion adapted to engage an inner wall of said case, and means carried by said member for releasably engaging the lower portion of said cleat to lock said cover on said case, said depending flange carried by said hook portion being V-shaped in horizontal cross section to provide a reinforced flange structure.

2. A clamp device for locking a cover upon a case equipped with a cleat on the outer side thereof, comprising an angular member having a horizontal top wall and a vertical side wall, means carried by and secured to the vertical side wall of said member and extending therefrom in spaced relation with respect to said top wall for receiving the edge portion of a cover and for engaging the inner wall of the case, a portion of said side wall being struck forwardly to provide a pair of spaced vertical channels and a spring member equipped with a U-shaped central portion and arranged with the legs of the U received within said channels to fixedly mount the spring member on the angular member, said spring member being provided with a pair of resilient arms, each of said arms extending laterally from one of the legs of the U of the central portion along the side of the angular member, each of the arms being equipped with an upwardly turned free end having a sharp point and being adapted to be sprung under said cleat so that the sharp point engages the cleat to secure the cover on the case.

3. A clamp device adapted to be used in pairs to secure a cover upon a case, the case being provided on opposite sides with cleats, each clamp comprising an angular member having a horizontal top wall and vertical side wall, integral hook means struck from said side wall, and providing a horizontal flange spaced from the top .wall and adapted to receive therebetween an edge portion of the cover, said hook means having a depending portion adapted to engage an inner wall of the case, the vertical side wall of the angular member being doubled upon itself and having a portion thereof struck forwardly to provide a pair of spaced vertical channels, and a spring member having a looped central portion in the shape of a U with the legs of the U extending upwardly through the vertical channels to secure the spring member to the angular member, the legs of the U being turned outwardly at the upper ends thereof to form a pair of arms which extend laterally in opposite directions from the central portion of the spring member along the side wall of the angular member, said arms being resilient and elastic and being provided on their free ends with upwardly turned sharp points, the sharp points being adapted to engage the lower surface of the cleat when the arms are sprung downwardly beneath the cleat.

WALTER D. BEHLEN. 

